NBL Canada This Week: 15-22 December
The current National Basketball League of Canada season is moving ahead at full steam, and this week saw plenty of exciting, unpredictable and more hotly contested play. Here's a round up of everything that happened this week in the NBLC:
Play on Friday saw the Niagara River Lions winning a close game against the Saint John Riptide, despite 31 points off the bench from Marek Ipsom of Saint John, but the night also saw an even more incredible performance. Against the Windsor Express, Charles Hinkle of the St John's Edge knocked down 53 points (yes, 53) in this game - just four shy of the NBLC record - helping his team overcome a twenty-point deficit and lift them to a 103-99 win which saw them take the top spot in the Central Division.
All ten teams were in action on Sunday. The Kitchener-Waterloo Titans took the Express to OT, and at times looked poised to take the win, but a three-pointer from Keith Shaquille in the final seconds allowed the Express to breathe a big sigh of relief. The Highlanders also took the River Lions to OT, thanks in part to three players scoring twenty-plus points, but the Lions remained composed to the end, with Omar Strong making the deciding basket.
On the same day, CJ Washington was the top performer for Halifax Hurricanes in their game against the Island Storm, putting up 30 points and 11 rebounds in his team’s ten-point victory. Ryan Anderson had a triple-double and Kyle Johnson had 31 points in London Lightning's thirteen-point win over St John's, while 32 points and 10 rebounds from Gabe Freeman and a triple-double from Horace Wormley put the Riptide over the Moncton Magic, easily taking their game 110-84.
In action three times this week, the Moncton Magic's schedule included a double header against the Cape Breton Highlanders. They won the both times, the first time by just one point. The Highlanders would get their revenge on the Hurricanes with an impressive 117-114 victory, in which five players scored in double figures, led by Duke Mondy with 33.
Behind consistently strong performances from Omar Strong and Samuel Muldrow, the Niagara River Lions won three of their four games this week, an impressive showing that has taken them to second place in the Central Division. London Lightning dealt the Lions their only loss on Friday, though their eighteen-point lead was cut down to two going down to the final stretch. A combination of good, composed shooting and hard defence from London helped them to see out the game with a 118-109 win.
Ryan Anderson was two assists shy of a second successive triple-double, but still finished with 17 points, 16 rebounds and 8 assists. He, Marcus Capers and Garrett Williamson all had double-doubles in this game, with 21 points from Bryan Akinkgube, one of six Lightning players to score in double figures. Niagara’s Marvell Waithe had a game-leading 22 points in the loss.
Finally, the only win of the week for the Island Storm’s came right at the end against the Riptide; a game which they led from start to finish, and saw three Storm players finish with double-doubles. It was a disappointing week for both teams, but the Storm nether the less remain at the top of the Atlantic Division, while Saint John's struggles continue in a highly competitive Central Division.
For regular news, updates and full information on the league and all games, head to the NBLC official website.
